Awe-Some! should I say more? Sure, keep reading, I'll tell you everything.
First of all game has 3 DVDs, so when I saw it I thought to myself - great, most likely awesome graphics and a lot of cutscenes. And I wasn't disappointed. This game has the best graphics to date on Xbox 360, some may disagree, comparing it to Gears Of War or Mass Effect. I am playing this game on SONY Bravia, 26" in HD and I am really impressed.
My first impression after I put the first DVD in was - where did all the voices go? You get this impression because the introduction video clip only has music. And then when you start the game (chose NEW GAME) you get same video clip but with a voice over this time.
Next thing is a bit odd. You do get introduction on why things happen the way they happen but the game itself starts kinda all of a sudden. You get 2 main characters talking to each other - Edge and Reimi. If you can get passed this abrupt beginning of the game, then you are ready for some really great fun.
I was impressed by the concept of travelling in space and at the same time play the game in Square Enix fantasy file. In the very beginning you get to realize that guns are of no use since monsters have "shields" and you need to switch to customized melee weapons. This is fun. Hours go by, you get through some impressively set up cutscenes and realize that this is certainly one of the best JRPGs you've ever played. Oblivion? Yeah it was fun, in some extent. But if you're fan of other games from Suare Enix you will love Star Ocean: The Last Hope.
Some details about the game:
Game becomes quite complex as further in you get. All the recipes supposed to be researched and there are certain requirements like specific characters that need to be present in the research group. Some recipes can't be researched until you pick up a blue print from the numerous chests scattered throughout the planets in SO.
When Sarah joins your team you get access to Synthesize, which allows you to empower your equipment by using specific items. You can make your gear really powerful if you know what you doing.
Star Ocean: The Last Hope does have a bit of grinding. For example if you want to have always the best equipment available you will need to do few runs through the planet sometimes to harvest and mine the nodes multiple times since the cap for stack of items is 20.
When you get close to the end of the game you get access to 'Elite' gear. That kind of equipment is not match for any monster in game other than special bonus dungeons that have very strong monsters and extremely powerful bosses.
Hope I got you excited. This is a great buy. And don't forget to buy a guide. Without guide you may get confused and miss on a lot of fun, like the actions that different characters can participate in during the flights between planets based on special conditions you have to meet.